Covid. Online shopping. Brexit. The British high street has taken a bit of a battering lately.
Big guns like Debenhams have folded. Topshop and Gap have moved online. Bricks and mortar businesses are feeling the strain.
So, what does this mean for our great British shopfitters?
Good news: while you’d be right to think the industry’s facing challenges, there are some golden opportunities to be found if you know where to look.
As ever, Team WF is here to help.
Bit of High Street History…
Once upon a time, shop owners wanted a few shelves for storage and a counter for their till.
Up until the mid-90s – unless you were a big department store – investing in refurbishment was way down the priority list.
Around this time, the economy was doing its best impression of one of those slugs we keep finding in our gardens, too. Things were grinding to a halt. Customers weren’t flashing the cash. Shops were going out of business and construction was also hit.
Then there was a boom
In the late 90s to mid-noughties, the fortunes of retail and construction were on the up again. Pubs, cafes and restaurants were booming too, and became another good source of work for fit-out contractors.
And then there was a crash
According to the brains at the British Independent Retailers Association High Street, retail premises occupancy fell from 95% in 2008 – era of the financial crash –to 85% in 2011. And they’ve never quite recovered.
There was a mini boom between 2013 and 2015 – where demand for private commercial sector premises grew – but this was soon followed by… *EastEnders drumbeat*: Brexit.
The gloomy bit
A perfect storm created by Brexit uncertainty, a move to online shopping, eye-wateringly expensive rents, sky-high business rates, lack of parking and other town centre infrastructure issues – not to mention, Covid – have since taken their toll on our once-vibrant Great British High Street.
The silver lining
But, while footfall on the High Street and applications for new retails space is down, some major retailers are re-purposing their premises, and demand is actually increasing for collection points and showroom areas – to display goods before customers buy them online.
And retailers want them to look good! They’ve got to be slick, modern, easy to navigate, and adhere to all the changes in shopfitting legislation, including the right disability access.
The past 25 years of great High Street shop design has left a legacy, too. Now other types of business – offices, leisure centres, libraries, and even factories – want top-notch spaces, slick receptions and aspirational breakout areas.
And if there’s one thing we’ve learned in our X years at WF HQ, it’s that our industry’s ever-changing – and adapting is the key to not just surviving but thriving.
The Future
‘Traditional high streets chains have taken a hit but there are lots of opportunities out there,’ says WF’s Dan Ralph. ‘People still want a day out shopping at a destination shopping centre, and part of that day out is getting food, catching up with friends, that’s still popular. We’re noticing smaller independent chains being given the chance to open, too. Plus, companies such as Sports Direct have gone down the multi-vendor store route with shops within shops.’
WF have recently supplied product to two big Sports Direct Group projects in Glasgow and Leicester.
The Glasgow project is a multi-fascia, multi-brand store, which brings together the company’s leading brands in a single location. Spreading over 180,000 square feet, it includes distinct retail space for each of the retail fascias. Designer store Flannels is located across the ground and first floor, while a built-in gym, the Everlast Fitness Club, occupies part of the second floor.
‘Big brands are going down the experiential route, too,’ adds Dan. ‘They’re creating big spaces where customers come in for the experience, rather than just to shop.
‘We know things look challenging but there are lots of new opportunities there for the taking. And we’re here helping you fight the good fight, over here. We’ve got all your supplies – and we can get them to you tomorrow, too, with our next-day delivery.’